Bass Fishing Essentials | Bass Fishing Gear Guide

By: Dylan Hayward

Bass fishing is one of the most popular outdoor activities, and the reasons are evident. There are few more exciting fish to battle with than bass. Added with the fact that largemouth inhabit most bodies of water all across the United States, it’s easy to see why they’re so desirable.

Bass fishing is not only popular, but it also possesses a level of challenge unlike any other fish species. Bass can be extremely particular about what bait they will go after, and when they do strike, they put up a very aggressive fight that can often end with anglers losing them at the last second.

While bass fishing is extremely exciting, it can seem overwhelming at first. There’s a lot of gear on the market and it can be difficult to select which products are best for your particular situation. If you’re just starting to bass fish, or even if you’re experienced in the sport, there are some essential pieces of gear that will enhance your experience.

Fishing Rod

Having a durable fishing rod is crucial to your success when bass fishing. I like to use a Med-Heavy power rod with fast action. Sick Stick makes an excellent 7’2” casting rod that is sensitive enough at the tip to alert you to any strikes and allow you to set your hook easily.

Casting rods can require a little more practice and can be a little trickier when casting around brush, which is why some people will opt for a spinning rod. Sick Stick makes a 7’3” spinning rod that I love to use when casting from a bank of heavy brush.

Fishing Reel

When selecting a reel it’s important that you find one that is durable and smooth for all of your fishing applications. I prefer to use a lighter reel that doesn’t compromise on drag. The Shimano Nasci FC is my preferred choice, and it can be used effectively in saltwater or freshwater.

As you search for a fishing reel, make sure that the drag weight is more than that of the fish that you are targeting. When I am fishing for bass, I like to use at least 6lbs+ rated drag weight. If you’re interested in a baitcasting reel, the Soleus Baitcaster is a great option.

Fishing Line

When fishing for bass, there’s a general idea that you stick with three basic line types: Braided line, monofilament, and fluorocarbon. I generally stick with Monofilament, due to its ease of use, and it’s relatively inexpensive in comparison.

Both braided line and fluorocarbon also have their advantages as well. Braided tends to have much less stretch to it making it extremely strong. Braided line also tends to be much thinner, it can be a lot easier to use around thick areas, which can be crucial depending on where you are fishing. One of the things I love about using fluorocarbon is its ability to essentially be invisible in the water. Fluorocarbon has the same light refraction as water, making it disappear as soon as you cast. This is very important due to the fact that bass rely on their eyesight to feed. If a bass can see your line, it’s unlikely that you’re going to get a bite.

Lures

When fishing for bass it’s nice to have a good variety of lures, as each type may become more desirable depending on where you are fishing and what time of the year that it is. Here in the midwest, I love using stickbait. They’re fairly basic and seem to drive bass nuts at all times of the year.

I am also a big fan of jerkbait in the early summer months. Catch Co makes an awesome jerkbait bundle that I have had a lot of success with. Try a few different types of lures out and see which ones you have the most success with. You can pick up a simple Plano tackle box and fill it with different varieties of stickbait, cranks, jigs and jerkbait and you’re sure to find some that work well.